California

UC Berkeley Students Band Together After Three Sexual Assaults Reported During Concert at Greek Theater

Three women reported being sexually assaulted while attending a concert at the Greek Theater on the University of California at Berkeley campus on Saturday night, university police said.

All were attending the "Mad Decent Block Party," a touring dance concert featuring a lengthy lineup of artists, according to police.

The first reported assault happened at about 8 p.m., when an 18-year-old woman standing in line at a restroom was taken to another location where she was assaulted, police said.

Police described the suspect as a man standing between 5 feet 11 inches tall and 6 feet 1 inch tall with an athletic build, brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a floral short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts at the time.

On Sunday morning another woman reported that she was also assaulted.

She said she met a stranger at the concert who assaulted her, describing the suspect as a 21-year-old man standing 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a multi-colored tank top, dark shorts and a hat at the time, according to police.

The third victim contacted university police at 1:35 p.m. on Monday, reporting that she was also assaulted at the concert. Further information about her report has not been made available.

"We take our students' and visitors' safety very seriously," said Sgt. Sabrina Reich with the UC Berkeley Police Department.

For their part, UC Berkeley students are banding together to raise awareness about and stop sexual assaults.

"Instead of sitting down and ignoring it contantly, it's time for people to stand up," said advocate Porche Kelly.

Student Hana Komina said that she doesn't know any sexual assault survivors or victims and would "like to keep it that way."

"For those who have experienced somthing like sexual assault, we need to let them know it is not their fault. This campus will support them," she continued.

Students have erected a Wall of Solidarity, as it is called, to show they care. Many wrote messages of support Tuesday to those who have been assaulted on campus.

According to Javier Melendez, who helped organize the Wall of Solidarity, sexual assault "can happen to anyone."

"I'm hoping this can eventually come to a stop, that people can be more compassionate, and think about what they're doing before it actually happens and they do it," he said.

Anyone with information about the assaults has been asked to contact the UC Berkeley police criminal investigations bureau at (510) 642-0472 or (510) 642-6760.

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